BRITAIN’S top cop is set to suggest law changes to the Home Secretary “within weeks” – aimed at stopping officers from policing tweets.
The head of the Met Police, Sir Mark Rowley, and senior officers are drawing up new rules for Shabana Mahmood, the new Home Secretary, in the wake of the arrest of Father Ted creator Graham Linehan.
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The comedian and writer was taken into custody by armed police when he stepped off a plane at Heathrow Airport last Monday.
Now Sir Mark wants to make sure officers no longer pursue complaints when there is no evidence the suspect intends to commit “real-world harm”, according to the Telegraph.
Last week he publicly called on the Government to return to “common sense” policing that is focused on tackling street crime and violence.
He blamed successive governments for putting cops “between a rock and a hard place” by forcing them to police “toxic culture wars.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “We want to see people being kept safe by policing streets, not just policing tweets.
“The police enforce the laws of the land we as legislators provide.
“So if we’re not getting the balance right, then that’s something we have to look at.”
Earlier in the week, Sir Mark said the decision to investigate and arrest Mr Linehan was made “within existing legislation”.
He added: “I understand the concern caused by such incidents, given differing perspectives on the balance between free speech and the risks of inciting real-world violence.
“Most reasonable people would agree that genuine threats of physical violence against an identified person or group should be acted upon.
“But when it comes to lesser cases, where there is ambiguity in terms of intent and harm, policing has been left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments, which have given officers no choice but to record such incidents as crimes.
“I don’t believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates and officers are currently in an impossible position.”
